Businesses still unconcerned about disaster risks
Nguyen Tri Thanh, Senior Programme Officer
of the Asia Foundation’s Environment Programme, made the remark during a
workshop to enhance disaster risk management for Vietnamese small- and
medium-sized enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City on November 22.
Nguyen Dien from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s
branch in the central city of Da Nang said research on 200 businesses in
the central region shows that most of them are still passive in their
response to disaster emergencies.
Up to 67 percent
of them do not have emergency phone numbers in case of natural
disasters, and 88 percent haven’t worked out traffic escape plans
against disasters, he added.
Experts said
businesses can reduce disaster risks by building disaster-resilient
facilities and training employees about the risks.
The business circle should also make use of the risks to create jobs,
apply new technologies, change their mode of production and improve
community connectivity, participants suggested.
Dien said good disaster risk management will benefit businesses, for
example protecting their workforce, property and production activities
and enhancing their image in society.
At the
workshop, businesses were provided with information on the Law on
Natural Disaster Preparedness and Control, which will take effect from
May 1 next year.
The function was co-organised by the Asia Foundation and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Support Centre 2.-VNA